Optimists Cricket Club - Match Manager Duties

Match Manager Duties 2018

The purpose of a match manager is to ensure that the match/weekend is a success from the logistical perspective.
If you have been nominated or volunteered as the match manager, it is very important that you fulfil these duties on behalf of the club.
There are two main aspects to good match management.

1. Preparation

Thanks to the website and the availability system, the competitive matches do not require much preparation, as:
- the players are automatically notified when they are selected
- umpires are allocated through a separate organisation (LCF Umpires).
However, for friendly matches and weekends, the preparation is the most important part.

If you are match manager for a friendly game, you must prepare several weeks in advance.
A few weeks before the date, the Fixtures secretary will introduce you by email to the main contact of the visiting club.
It is important to proactively liaise with the visiting team so that the following points are crystal clear:-

Some of those preparation tasks are:
-Confirm arrival logistics and timing of matches;
-The format of both the Saturday and Sunday games;
-Confirm Cricket clothing and match ball colour;
-Confirm Catering plans for both days;
-Information shared with the home team and the assigned umpires;

Liaise with the Wendy Manager (Timmy Andrews) to ensure the Wendy has required catering equipment, score-book, water bottles and the beer fridge is fully loaded.
If a curry is to be ordered, ensure liaison with the New Dehli restaurant no later than the Friday before to agree the order and collection time.
It is not open on Sunday but sometime special arrangements can be made – tel: 26 89 75 11

2. Execution

On the day of a home game, the match manager's main task is not to actually do all the logistical work, but to make sure that all the players contribute in some way or another to setting things up.

Some of the tasks on the day are:
- boundary rope
- chairs and benches
- sight screens
- tea tables
- fill the urn
- check that the toilet is in order
- stumps and bails

NB: all this has to be put away after, so don't let the players slope off after the game without contributing in some way to the clear up effort.
In general, as match manager, it is difficult to complete all these duties and also play.

Often it is best not to play on the Saturday but Sunday’s duties are easier and can be combined with playing.
It is customary to present an OCC cap to either the best visiting player from the weekend or the captain as a gesture in the final thank you speeches.
It is also good to take a few photos and to arrange for someone to write a match report and send it promptly to the webmaster.